Showing papers on "Ultimate tensile strength published in 2002"

High tensile ductility in a nanostructured metal.

Abstract: Nanocrystalline metals--with grain sizes of less than 100 nm--have strengths exceeding those of coarse-grained and even alloyed metals, and are thus expected to have many applications. For example, pure nanocrystalline Cu (refs 1-7) has a yield strength in excess of 400 MPa, which is six times higher than that of coarse-grained Cu. But nanocrystalline materials often exhibit low tensile ductility at room temperature, which limits their practical utility. The elongation to failure is typically less than a few per cent; the regime of uniform deformation is even smaller. Here we describe a thermomechanical treatment of Cu that results in a bimodal grain size distribution, with micrometre-sized grains embedded inside a matrix of nanocrystalline and ultrafine (<300 nm) grains. The matrix grains impart high strength, as expected from an extrapolation of the Hall-Petch relationship. Meanwhile, the inhomogeneous microstructure induces strain hardening mechanisms that stabilize the tensile deformation, leading to a high tensile ductility--65% elongation to failure, and 30% uniform elongation. We expect that these results will have implications in the development of tough nanostructured metals for forming operations and high-performance structural applications including microelectromechanical and biomedical systems.

Direct mechanical measurement of the tensile strength and elastic modulus of multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Abstract: We have conducted pulling and bending tests on individual carbon nanotubes in-situ in a transition electron microscope. Based on our observation of the force required to break the tube, a tensile strength of 0.15 TPa was computed. From corresponding bending studies on such nanotubes, the Young's modulus was estimated to be 0.9 TPa (0.8 TPa after ‘sub continuum’ corrections). These results suggest a strength that is a large fraction of the elastic modulus, although previous measurements of their elastic stiffness have yielded higher modulus values, by as much as a factor of 2. The result does indicate that individual nanotubes can fail as essentially defect-free materials. Furthermore, we observed no obvious reduction in cross-sectional area prior to the failure. In addition, the bending experiments revealed a remarkable flexibility in these tubes. These unique properties support the potential of nanotubes as reinforcement fibers in structural materials.

Analysis of the flax fibres tensile behaviour and analysis of the tensile stiffness increase

Abstract: The knowledge of the behaviour of flax fibres is of crucial importance for their use as a reinforcement for composites materials. Flax fibres were tested under tensile loading and in repeated loading–unloading experiments. We have shown that fibre stiffness increases with the strain. This phenomenon is attributed to the orientation of the fibrils with the axis of the fibre when a strain occurs. By using micro-mechanical equations, the Young's modulus of a flax fibre is estimated by taking into account the composition of the fibre and the evolution of the orientation of the fibrils during a tensile test. A good agreement is found between experimental and calculated results. The origin of the large spread observed in the mechanical characteristics is analysed here.

Fabrication of Carbon Multiwall Nanotube/Polymer Composites by Shear Mixing

Abstract: The dispersion of nanotubes in polymer matrices has been investigated as a means of deriving new and advanced engineering materials. These composite materials have been formed into fibers and thin films and their mechanical and electrical properties determined. The nanotube concentration at which conductivity was initiated (the percolation threshold) varied with host polymer. In poly(propylene), this was as low as 0.05 vol.-%, while higher concentrations were required for polystyrene and particularly for ABS. There was a small increase in elastic modulus and decrease in tensile strength at low nanotube loading, but as the concentration was increased there was a progressive increase in both strength and stiffness.

Aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube-reinforced composites: processing and mechanical characterization

Abstract: Carbon nanotubes have been the subject of considerable attention because of their exceptional physical and mechanical properties. These properties observed at the nanoscale have motivated researchers to utilize carbon nanotubes as reinforcement in composite materials. In this research, a micro-scale twin-screw extruder was used to achieve dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in a polystyrene matrix. Highly aligned nanocomposite films were produced by extruding the polymer melt through a rectangular die and drawing the film prior to cooling. Randomly oriented nanocomposites were produced by achieving dispersion first with the twin-screw extruder followed by pressing a film using a hydraulic press. The tensile behaviour of the aligned and random nanocomposite films with 5 wt.% loading of nanotubes were characterized. Addition of nanotubes increased the tensile modulus, yield strength and ultimate strengths of the polymer films, and the improvement in elastic modulus with the aligned nanotube composite is five times greater than the improvement for the randomly oriented composite.

Effects of environmental aging on the mechanical properties of bamboo–glass fiber reinforced polymer matrix hybrid composites

Abstract: Short bamboo fiber reinforced polypropylene composites (BFRP) and short bamboo–glass fiber reinforced polypropylene hybrid composites (BGRP) were fabricated using a compression molding method. Maleic anhydride polypropylene (MAPP) was used as a compatibilizer to improve the adhesion between the reinforcements and the matrix material. By incorporating up to 20% (by mass) glass fiber, the tensile and flexural modulus of BGRP were increased by 12.5 and 10%, respectively; and the tensile and flexural strength were increased by 7 and 25%, respectively, compared to those of BFRP. Sorption behavior and effects of environmental aging on tensile properties of both BFRP and BGRP systems were studied by immersing samples in water for up to 1200 h at 25°C. Compared to BFRP, a 4% drop in saturated moisture level is seen in BGRP. After aging in water for 1200 h, reduction in tensile strength and modulus for BGRP is nearly two times less than that of BFRP. Use of MAPP as coupling agent in the polypropylene matrix results in decreased saturated moisture absorption level and enhanced mechanical properties for both BFRP and BGRP systems. Thus it is shown that the durability of bamboo fiber reinforced polypropylene can be enhanced by hybridization with small amount of glass fibers.

Effects of cooling speed on microstructure and tensile properties of Sn–Ag–Cu alloys

Abstract: The microstructures and tensile properties of three typical Sn–Ag–Cu alloys, Sn–30wt%Ag–05wt%Cu, Sn–35wt%Ag–07wt%Cu and Sn–39wt%Ag–06wt%Cu, prepared under three different cooling conditions were evaluated after casting The microstructures of all rapidly cooled specimens consisted of the eutectic phase of β-Sn with fine fibrous Ag3Sn dispersion surrounding primary β-Sn grains The slowly cooled Sn–35Ag–07Cu and Sn–39Ag–06Cu alloys exhibited additional large primary Ag3Sn platelets, while the Sn–30Ag–05Cu did not For all alloys, both ultimate tensile strength and 02% proof stress increased with increasing strain-rates in tensile tests Lowering cooling speed decreased tensile strength Elongation increased with an increasing strain rate from 10−5 to 10−2 s−1, and decreased slightly at 10−1 s−1 for the rapidly cooled specimens Elongation remarkably decreased for the slowly cooled Sn–35Ag–07Cu and Sn–39Ag–06Cu alloys, a degradation attributable to the formation of large primary Ag3Sn platelets

Shear Strength of Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Beamswithout Stirrups

Abstract: ACI Structural Journal/July-August 2002 ACI Structural Journal, V. 99, No. 4, July-August 2002. MS No. 01-402 received November 27, 2001, and reviewed under Institute publication policies. Copyright © 2002, American Concrete Institute. All rights reserved, including the making of copies unless permission is obtained from the copyright proprietors. Pertinent discussion will be published in the May-June 2003 ACI Structural Journal if received by January 1, 2003. ACI STRUCTURAL JOURNAL TECHNICAL PAPER

The influence of fibre length and concentration on the properties of glass fibre reinforced polypropylene: 5. Injection moulded long and short fibre PP

Abstract: We present results of a step by step comparison of the mechanical performance of injection moulded ‘long’ (LF-PP) and ‘short’ (SF-PP) glass fibre-polypropylene compounds. The study allows direct comparison of the mechanical performance of long and short fibre systems in the same resin at the same fibre diameter, and the effect of fibre diameter in short fibre compounds. Furthermore, the comparison of these three systems has been made over the 0–40 wt% fibre content range. At the same fibre diameter and fibre content LF-PP gives significant improvements in room temperature tensile and flexural strength, notched and unnotched impact resistance. The improvement in impact resistance is higher still at lower test temperature. LF-PP also gives increasingly higher modulus over SF-PP as the strain is increased. The effect of lowering the fibre diameter in SF-PP has been shown to increase both strength and unnotched impact, but not to the levels obtained with LF-PP at higher fibre diameter. Notched impact and modulus of SF-PP were relatively unaffected by reduction of the fibre diameter. The relative mechanical data are shown to conform well to available models. The results are discussed in terms of the relevant micro-mechanical parameters of these materials.

Tensile and compressive properties of flax fibres for natural fibre reinforced composites

Abstract: Mechanical properties of standard decorticated and hand isolated flax bast fibres were determined in tension as well as in compression. The tensile strength of technical fibre bundles was found to depend strongly on the clamping length. The tensile strength of elementary flax fibres was found to range between 1500 MPa and 1800 MPa, depending on the isolation procedure. The compressive strength of elementary flax fibres as measured with a loop test lies around 1200 MPa. However, the compressive strength can be lowered severely by the decortication process. The standard decortication process induces kink bands in the fibres. These kink bands are found to contain cracks bridged by microfibrils. The failure behaviour of elementary flax fibres under compression can be described as similar to the failure behaviour of a stranded wire.

Engineering Behavior of a Sand Reinforced with Plastic Waste

Abstract: Unconfined compression tests, splitting tensile tests, and saturated drained triaxial compression tests with local strain mea- surement were carried out to evaluate the benefit of utilizing randomly distributed polyethylene terephthalate fiber, obtained from recycling waste plastic bottles, alone or combined with rapid hardening Portland cement to improve the engineering behavior of a uniform fine sand. The separate and the joint effects of fiber content~up to 0.9 wt %!, fiber length ~up to 36 mm!, cement content ~ from 0t o 7 wt %!, and initial mean effective stress ~20, 60, and 100 kN/m 2 ! on the deformation and strength characteristics of the soil were investigated using design of experiments and multiple regression analysis. The results show that the polyethylene terephthalate fiber reinforcement improved the peak and ultimate strength of both cemented and uncemented soil and somewhat reduced the brittleness of the cemented sand. In addition, the initial stiffness was not significantly changed by the inclusion of fibers.

Aluminum coatings via kinetic spray with relatively large powder particles

Abstract: Coatings have been produced by entraining relatively large diameter metal powders in a supersonic airflow. For the first time, most of the particles in the powders have diameters >50 μm. Substantial plastic deformation is involved in the conversion of the particle's kinetic energy into heat and strain energy in this kinetic spray process. As suggested by simple estimates and confirmed by coating grain structures, the particles are not melted or thermally softened in this coating process. These coatings have a relatively low oxide content, low thermal stress, high adhesion, low porosity and hardness somewhat higher than those of corresponding bulk materials. Threshold or critical velocities for coating formation are discussed. Critical velocities for the relatively large particles were observed to be substantially less than have been reported earlier for smaller diameter (<50 μm) particles. Coating particle rotation and deformation due to particle impact resulted in a corresponding decrease in porosity. Bond formation, particle deformation and grain deformation were found to be highly anisotropic, depending on the direction of the incident particle velocity. At higher incident velocities, increasing metallic bond formation between particles was observed. This is consistent with a metallic form for stress/strain curves obtained via tensile tests on Al coatings removed from the substrate. The coating elastic modulus was found to be less than half that of bulk Al. Measured ultimate tensile strengths and yield points of Al coatings were comparable to those of bulk Al. This may be due to work hardening resulting from the plastic deformation necessary for coating formation. These tensile test results are consistent with coating cohesive strengths as measured by stud pull tests. Higher powder feed rates produced coatings with higher failure loads in three point bending, higher coating cohesion and lower coating strength anisotropy, presumably due to a peening effect. Four velocity-dependent stages of coating formation are proposed based on observations reported here. Coating properties arise from a competition between these stages. Parallels with models of dynamic (explosive) powder compaction are made. This is the first comprehensive model for kinetic spray coating formation.

The ball on three balls test for strength testing of brittle discs: stress distribution in the disc

Abstract: Biaxial strength testing of brittle materials is claimed to have some benefits compared to uniaxial testing, e.g. the much simpler specimen preparation, the avoiding of tensile loaded edges, the similarity of the stress state to those from typical loading (e.g. during a thermal shock loading) and the fact, that biaxial stress states are more revealing of defects than uniaxial stress states. The experience of the past showed, that biaxial strength testing has its own problems, to avoid these led to the development of several variants. One of these variants, the ball on three balls test, seems to be extremely simple: a disc is supported by three balls and then axially loaded from the opposite side via a fourth ball. In this system small deviations from the requested geometry, especially some out of flatness of the disc, are mentioned to be tolerable, but the threefold bending symmetry makes an exact analytical assessment of the stress state in the loaded disc extremely difficult. A numerical approach has yet not been performed. In this paper a FE analysis of the stress state in a ball on three balls tested disc is performed. The stress field scales with the maximum principle stress, which occurs in the centre of the tensile surface. For this stress an analytical approximation (which has been fitted to the numerical results) is given, which accounts for the influence of all relevant geometrical and material parameters. The investigated range of parameters considers the values typical for testing of brittle materials.

Carbon-nanofibre-reinforced poly(ether ether ketone) composites

Abstract: Poly(ether ether ketone) nanocomposites containing vapour-grown carbon nanofibres (CNF) were produced using standard polymer processing techniques. Evaluation of the mechanical composite properties revealed a linear increase in tensile stiffness and strength with nanofibre loading fractions up to 15 wt% while matrix ductility was maintained up to 10 wt%. Electron microscopy confirmed the homogeneous dispersion and alignment of nanofibres. An interpretation of the composite performance by short-fibre theory resulted in rather low intrinsic stiffness properties of the vapour-grown CNF. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that an interaction between matrix and the nanoscale filler could occur during processing. Such changes in polymer morphology due to the presence of a nanoscale filler need to be considered when evaluating the mechanical properties of such nanocomposites.

Toughening of a brittle thermosetting polymer: Effects of reinforcement particle size and volume fraction

Abstract: Micron- and nanometer-sized aluminum particles were used as reinforcements to enhance the fracture toughness of a highly-crosslinked, nominally brittle, thermosetting unsaturated polyester resin. Both particle size and particle volume fraction were systematically varied to investigate their effects on the fracture behavior and the fracture toughness. It was observed that, in general, the overall fracture toughness increased monotonically with the volume fraction of aluminum particles, for a given particle size, provided particle dispersion and deagglomeration was maintained. The fracture toughness of the composite was also strongly influenced by the size of the reinforcement particles. Smaller particles led to a greater increase in fracture toughness for a given particle volume fraction. Scanning electron microscopy of the fracture surfaces was employed to establish crack front trapping as the primary extrinsic toughening mechanism. Finally, the effects of particle volume fraction and size on the tensile properties of the polyester-aluminum composite were also investigated. The measured elastic modulus was in accordance with the rule-of-mixtures. Meanwhile, the tensile strength was slightly reduced upon the inclusion of aluminum particles in the polyester matrix.

Material Properties Bamboo fibre filled natural rubber composites: the effects of filler loading and bonding agent

Abstract: Bamboo fibre reinforced natural rubber composites were prepared by incorporation of different loadings of bamboo fibre. Two series of composites were studied i.e. composites with and without the presence of a bonding agent. The curing characteristics of the composites were determined and the composites were vulcanized at 150°C using a hot press. The properties of the composites such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, tear strength, elongation at break and hardness were studied. The adhesion between the bamboo fibre and the natural rubber were enhanced by the addition of bonding agent as exhibited by the tensile fracture surfaces of the composites using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The presence of bonding agent also gave shorter curing time and enhanced mechanical properties.  2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.